Food For the Soul

So so good! Everything tastes so yummy! The buffet had plenty of options with almost every kind of comfort food I could want on it. Everyone working there was so nice and made us feel at home. The food was replenished way better to bigger chain buffets I’ve been to. Nothing that was fried had a heavy oil on it at all! There were two different kinds of fish that each had their own flavor and nothing else fried tasted like the fish. You can tell they put a lot of love in the food.
I was wishing for a biscuit or some mashed potatoes and gravy, but since I’ve only been there once maybe they switch it up. The Mac and cheese was delicious! I love the texture of the different cheeses. The chicken livers were beautiful and delicious. I don’t know how they did it, but I didn’t get a single bitter one. Maybe that was just my luck. Hubby was loving the greens and the cornbread. The shrimp was out of this world and I went back a few times for the flounder as well. Just wow!
It is such a tiny place with all the parking across the street, but that didn’t stop the place from Having a very steady flow of patrons. When I got there I didn’t think much of the tiny dining room, but I never once felt crowded. There were plenty of people coming in to get to go boxes and people staying for lunch.
We will be back many more times for all of that wonderful comfort food.

I went to the restaurant twice, and I can’t really say that the food was anything to write home about. I was convinced that the food would be great by the wonderful reviews this restaurant has, but after eating there, I couldn’t help but feel that people who enjoy this place don’t really know what good Southern cooking is. The fried meats – chicken and pork chops – were both sub par, and any and all flavor that was on the meat (tasted like pure salt) – slid off with the flour batter, leaving the meat bland. The meat was also tough on one visit but not on the other. The green beans were fine but were worse the second visit; the macaroni should be avoided. The only thing that stood out about this restaurant was that it wasn’t fit to eat.

This was a nightmare! The food was not hot, the chicken, baked and fried was hard and dry. The customer service was crazy bad and the food looked like it had been sitting on the warmer for hours. It also tasted like it had been sitting on the warmer for hours. I would not recommend anyone to go to this tiny supposed to be soul food restaurant.

Amazing soul food. It is a no frills establishment, but if you are here for the food and not on a diet… This is the place to be!

The real deal, which is very hard to find in this region these days. This food is not watered down for tourists or transplants like many soul/​southern food restaurants. It is very reasonably priced (all you can eat for $ 11), but be prepared for more than cozy conditions, as this place gets super busy. Cornbread dressing and pork chops are the best I’ve had since my grandmother passed away in 1991. Sorry Dillard House, but you’ve been replaced.

We’ve already visited here five times in the first month in Athens, a good sign that we’re happy with this place. There’s not a lot to say other than that the meats and sides are consistently very good, with fried shrimp (when they serve it) deserving of six stars at least. This is entirely self-​serve, DIY, and a terrific «get-​to-​know-​your-​neighbor» atmosphere.
We’ve enjoyed every dish we’ve had here. Their collards, deviled eggs, fried shrimp and fried chicken all deserve special commendations. Kudos for friendly service, as well. One if our favorite places in town or out.

Great food. Great company. Come here! Down home family atmosphere. Cozy. Greens – sharp, pungent, and tasty. Even the stems are tender. Great mac and cheese.
Buffet: Eat as much as you want, but you can’t take a plate.

This place is the bomb! Being a college student and being away from mamas cooking, makes this place look like the secret formula to plankton lol! From the fried chicken to the catfish to the chicken rice to the ribs to the fried porkchops you feel like you are in heaven! The price is very reasonable for a BUFFET, me and my boyfriend paid like $ 20 for two, with sweet tea or lemonade and dessert included! I love this place! Only issue is that it’s a little small and space is limited but hey it’s so good everyone is there!

I was craving some southern food and decided to go here with my girlfriend and friend. I got the $ 11 all you can eat buffet and it was so freaking delicious! The fried chicken was so tasty. The fried shrimp and catfish were on the point! And the rice with chicken was awesome. The sides are to die for, I especially loved the baked beans, collard greens, and deviled eggs! If you love southern food, then you should definitely come to this place! The food is amazing and it’s a local Athens business. The staff were great too!

not that great. everything was rather bland. very expensive for the quality. had the buffet.

Fantastic lunch deal– I had a plate and drink for $ 7.50 (including tax!) The fried pork chop was great but I think the sides stole the show. I had the mac and cheese, which was thick and had bread crumbs on top, and collard greens. One of my friends had the rice and broccoli casserole which I sampled heavily.
Even if you just order a plate you serve yourself from the buffet which was a little confusing for my first visit, and is a little bit of an awkward space to navigate with others choosing from the wealth of options. However, the staff was quite friendly and helpful and the atmosphere was laid back and warm. Definitely plan to return!

We had heard great things and we’re not disappointed. Sunday was crowded but the food was always there. Great fish and shrimp but the sides were fantastic. Well seasoned and even the fried food was not greasy or too breaded. Will definitely be back.

By FAR the best soul food in Athens. Cramped dining room, awkward buffet line, but worth the effort. Very friendly staff! This restaurant reminds me of the great soul food dives in southern Georgia. Go on Thursday when they have chicken livers! The fried chicken and fried pork chops are fantastic. Don’t even get me started on the mac & cheese!!!

The best country cooking around, good price, friendly staff. Everything was incredible. Schedule is a little weird.

I really enjoyed the food!!! Real southern home-​cooking food served. Good sides like the chicken and rice dish, and delicious chicken — fried or baked. Staff, very friendly and hospitable. However they really REALLY need to consider moving into another building or location. Its a TRUE hole-​in-​the-​wall place, and it makes you feel uncomfortable when approaching and entering the restaurant. Nonetheless… you are going to stay and eat when you smell that delicious food:-)

I am always on the lookout for undiscovered places that serve country cooking, and this place is a true gem!
My wife, son, and daughter stopped here for a late lunch one recent Friday. From the outside, it does not look too impressive; in fact, my wife wanted to keep driving by!
But I convinced her to give it a try, and after we ate, she said it was some of the best food she has eaten in quite a while!
It’s an AYCE buffet, or you can do a la carte. For around $ 9, including drink and dessert, it’s definitely a better deal to go the AYCE route.
The staff is extremely friendly and hospitable. Classic diner atmosphere: working people coming and going, TV on the wall playing Judge Judy, etc.
EVERYTHING I tried was fabulous! And I did try everything on the buffet, except the salad because I figure lettuce is lettuce.
On the menu that day: fried chicken, fried pork chops, chicken tenders, fried catfish, coconut shrimp, green beans, stewed tomatoes, boiled cabbage, black-​eyed peas, collard greens, yams, lima beans, baked beans, fried okra, rice & gravy, deviled eggs, cucumber salad, banana pudding, corn bread, and sweet tea.
If you are anywhere near Athens, by all means make an effort to eat here. You will not regret it!

Food for the Soul is very, very good. I would say it’s the best in Athens for sure ! When you go here, don’t look to be waited on, don’t look for great décor because it’s all about the food here. This is true soul food. I love the mac-​n-​cheese, the chicken, sweet potatoes. This is good eating !

My girlfriend and I just went to Food For The Soul for the first time. We will definitely be back. The food was amazing especially the collards, pork chops, fried chicken and Mac and cheese. Everybody who worked there was super nice and really made our day. It was also cheaper than i expected $ 8 for a meal or $ 10 (after tax) for all you can eat. I really like Weaver Ds and Peaches but FFTS is my new favorite place for soul food in Athens.
I highly recommend that you try food for the soul.

Food for the Soul– Soul Food is far and away the best soul food in Athens, and probably anywhere. People in Athens like to carry on about how great Weaver D’s is; those people are obviously amateur fried-​chicken eaters. I always get the buffet here because, as much as I love the fried chicken, the sides are my favorite. FFTS macaroni and cheese has ruined all other mac n’ cheeses for me. The cabbage, broccoli and rice casserole, green beans, and fried okra are all favorites. On Sundays they have amazing cornbread dressing. The sweet tea is the best in town in my opinion, making this place a caloric splurge I can only justify every couple of weeks. The only improvement I could think to suggest is that I wish FFTS had a biscuit option, instead of just sweet and unsweet cornbread, like Peaches does.
Food for the Soul is open from 11am-​ish until 5pm-​ish every day but Monday and Saturday (this may have changed). The owners/​staff are super nice, debit/​credit cards are accepted, and meals are priced below most other soul food restaurants in town. I think the buffet is around $ 9 with a drink, but you can also get a meat and 2 for $ 8(ish) or 2 or 3 sides with cornbread for even less. The prices have changed sort of recently so I’m hesitant to give amounts. Parking is across the street on Colima. Make sure to wear something with an elastic waistband.

Can’t believe I’m first! This is my FAVORITE spot in Athens. Family-​run. Fantastic soul food – chicken, meat loaf, okra, green beans, livers, cake, sweet tea, etc., etc. This is as good as it gets. In Athens, I prefer it over Weaver D’s, Wilson’s, or Chonell’s. Check this place out.